Healthy ‘Stat’

Week 31, ended April 21, is this year’s version of the former springtime “dark week,” the 10-day lull between season’s end and the start of the May sweeps (on April 24).

ABC won the week, edging NBC with a 10.7 rating/19 share in Nielsen compared to a 10.6/19, with CBS at 10.3/18. Nothing vital happened in the week, but some replacement shows made their appearance for the sweeps run.

The best debut was enjoyed by ABC’s “Stat” at 9:30 p.m., which posted a 17.1/29, to run a mere two shares behind lead-in “Roseanne’s” 18.3/31 – a very good start. (It didn’t do quite as well in its second outing, dropping five share points from “Roseanne’s” 26.) Earlier on Tuesday, “Baby Talk” debuted in the 8:30 p.m. slot to an ordinary 11.7/20.

CBS’ “Toon Nite” umbrella series on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. got off to subpar numbers with a 7.5/14 for “Bugs Bunny: Overtures To Disaster,” followed by an even worse 7.1/12 for “Prime Time Pets.” “DEA” returned to Fox’ slate on Friday at 9 p.m. with a dismal 2.8/5, but “Top Of The Heap” improved on its initial airing on Fox’ Sunday lineup with an 11.9/19 at 9:30 p.m.